Senior Development Manager

This is a hybrid position that requires 8 days/month in the office. You can be based in our office in Washington D.C.,  London, The Hague.  Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission as WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position.

About the Program:

The world needs to shift from economies based on exploiting people and nature to low-carbon economies that are good for people and good for the planet. Achieving the world’s people, nature, and climate goals will require major transformations of every human system that supports life on Earth — from the ways we produce and use food and energy to how we design cities and to the economic, financial and political governance systems which underpin them. WRI works to drive transitions in focus countries where we can test, evaluate, and scale strategies and lessons learned, and to set ambitious global commitments and initiatives. We bring change-makers together from governments, businesses, non-profits, and others to advance rigorous, evidence-based solutions and learning.

The Climate, Economics, and Finance Program is responsible in WRI for both driving forward changes in finance, economic, and governance systems at the global, country transition, and human system-level, and stewarding the Institute’s climate goal, with a focus on both adaptation and mitigation. It is responsible for delivering outcomes on climate ambition, country transitions, finance, adaptation, and corporate action.

Job Highlight:

Reporting to Chief of Staff of the Global CEF Program, you will integrate equity into your work. You will lead fundraising strategy development and coordination for the Global Climate, Economics & Finance (CEF) Program as a key resource for project managers and a senior advisor to the Global CEF Director. You will be responsible for all donor relations managed through the Global Program, overseeing a team of fundraising professionals within the CEF Program as well as working with the WRI’s Development Department to guide CEF Program leaders through engagement with U.S. and international governments, multilateral institutions, foundations, corporations, and major individual donors.

This role requires a strategic thinker and relationship-builder who is also an excellent communicator capable of translating complex research into fundable projects. You will work with technical teams to develop targeted fundraising strategies that advance program objectives, helping conceptualize theories of change, highlighting WRI’s unique capabilities to deliver impact, and shaping compelling proposal narratives. Along with other Program Development staff, you will oversee donor stewardship, prospect research, proposal writing, and internal project framing. You will lead and participate in joint fundraising efforts across WRI to produce multi-faceted proposals for major awards, routinely in the $1,000,000+ range. You will manage a team of other nonprofit fundraising professionals too.

What will you do:

Fundraising Strategy Development and Leadership (40%):-

• Collaborate with CEF Program leadership to develop targeted fundraising strategies to achieve continuous, sustainable funding that scales to the ambition and opportunities of WRI’s Climate goal and objectives
• Provide advice, training, and strategy development support to managers across the Global CEF program and help advance CEF-related fundraising in WRI country offices through strategic guidance and collaboration
• Support long-term project planning efforts to ensure the development of clear and compelling offers that are aligned with CEF and WRI fundraising priorities and opportunities
• Manage the fundraising pipeline, enduring timely identification and tracking of prospects and proposals across the CEF Program. Oversee the progression of proposal and donor engagement through various stages while maintaining detailed records of outcomes
• Develop and nurture the growth of fundraising communication and skills among technical leads across the Program

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